Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome primarily affects which demographic?

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is primarily linked to mutations in the WAS gene located on the X chromosome. This X-linked recessive inheritance pattern means that males, who have only one X chromosome, are more likely to be affected by the syndrome. Females, who have two X chromosomes, typically carry the gene mutation but are much less likely to exhibit the symptoms because they have a second, potentially unaffected X chromosome that can compensate for the defective one.

The condition involves a triad of symptoms: eczema, recurrent infections, and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), which are predominantly observed in affected males. This demographic distinction highlights the disparity caused by X-linked inheritance, where the manifestation of the syndrome is significantly more common and severe in males than in females.

In contrast, the other options suggest equal representation among genders or simply focus on newborns, neither of which accurately reflects the specific genetic and clinical characteristics associated with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.